Chapter 216: The operation malfunctioned!

Hu Tao, the 77th-generation Hall Master of the Hall of Rebirth, and also Zhongli's direct superior during his wanderings in the mortal realm, is a lively and clever young woman.

She looks fierce and ready to collect a debt.

Luo De and Venti simultaneously took a step back.

At the same time, Luo De's gaze toward Zhongli was still somewhat puzzled.

As for Venti, never mind.

This guy really has no money, and he doesn't like putting on airs of a deity; if he's not in Mondstadt and not busking, he can't even produce a single Mora.

In fact.

Venti doesn't like receiving special treatment as a deity; instead, he prefers that the few people who know his identity treat him like a friend, rather than immediately showing reverence upon meeting him as other believers do when facing a god.

The only privilege he accepts is free drinks.

However, Zhongli and Venti's situation is different.

As the creator of Mora, he is still the Geo Archon Morax; if he wanted to, he could easily produce a pile of money. This is not like Zhongli, who has relinquished his minting authority, so how could he owe such a large amount of Mora?

On the other hand.

Zhongli calmly explained to Hu Tao: "I have some personal matters that haven't been fully resolved yet, but once I finish them, I'll come to take care of the Hall's work."

Hmph~

"Then you'd better hurry, otherwise we won't be able to pay off the debts you've recorded outside."

Hu Tao pursed her lips, then leaned forward to look at Luo De and Venti and said: "Are these two your friends, Guest Official?"

"This is Luo De, from Sumeru, a scholar."

"This is Venti, from Mondstadt, a bard."

Zhongli introduced Luo De and Venti's names and identities to Hu Tao, then said: "These two will be staying at the Hall of Rebirth for a few days; they need two guest rooms. I came to discuss this with you, Hall Master."

"Oh, no problem, Guest Official, you can arrange it yourself."

"The Guest Official's friends are our Hall of Rebirth's friends; no need to be so formal—just make yourself at home here."

Oh, no problem, Guest Official, you can arrange it yourself.

Hu Tao stroked her chin as she thought: "New Moon Pavilion probably has no seats right now; let's go to Wanmin Hall or Second Lady Sun. It's also getting late, so there shouldn't be too many people there."

"We've already eaten."

"Hall Master, you don't need to spend money."

Having said that, Zhongli added: "I'll take them to rest first; Hall Master, you should also rest early and stop staying up late."

"Whoa~~ got it~~"

Regarding Zhongli's thoughtful reminder, Hu Tao showed no annoyance, merely smiling and saying: "Then Guest Official, go rest first; your friends should too~~~"

On the way to the guest rooms.

Luo De couldn't contain his curiosity and asked: "Mr. Zhongli, how did you end up owing so much? Aren't you...?"

He said.

Luo De also rubbed his fingers, subtly pointing out Zhongli's ability to create Mora himself.

However, Zhongli seemed not to understand Luo De's meaning, answering irrelevantly: "I just happened to take a liking to an exceptionally fine wood carving last month and bought it."

"Huh?"

Luo De exclaimed in surprise: "Just one wood carving and you owe over a year's salary?"

"Hehe, his taste is quite picky."

"Anything he takes a liking to is naturally valuable and worth the price."

Venti chuckled beside them.

It looks like he's explaining for Zhongli.

His half-smiling expression makes it clear he's not saying anything nice.

Combined with the fact that Zhongli has previously spent high prices on impractical, showy items...

Luo De is quite certain—indeed, absolutely certain—that this troublemaker Venti is definitely being sarcastic toward Zhongli.

As for why Zhongli didn't just create Mora himself but chose to record the debt to the Hall of Rebirth by overdrawing his salary to buy things...

From Zhongli's gaze, Luo De roughly figured it out.

It's not that he can't.

It's that he doesn't want to.

You must know that Teyvat has no other currency—only the Mora system.

In other words.

This is the trust of the other gods in Zhongli; otherwise, not all nations would use this currency, avoiding potential economic conflicts like those between different currencies.

Then, as the creator of Mora and the founder of the Mora system...

Zhongli must constantly uphold the principle of not damaging the Mora system.

This also means that...

Besides Liyue's mint, the Golden House, even as the Geo Archon, Zhongli cannot arbitrarily produce Mora and disrupt the market economy.

Don't underestimate the danger posed by hundreds of thousands of Mora.

If Zhongli had no principles and casually created Mora for his own consumption, over time, large amounts of Mora not belonging to the Golden House would appear on the market.

This would easily deal a devastating blow to Teyvat's economic system.

"Mr. Zhongli, I was just being rude."

Arriving at the guest room door, Luo De apologized for his earlier words.

"It's fine, as long as you understand."

Zhongli nodded and told Luo De a time: "After breakfast tomorrow, we'll head to Guili Plains."

They had agreed on a time.

He then turned back to his own room, and Luo De also went into the guest room to rest.

The night passed without a word.

The next morning, after Luo De opened his eyes, a lively tune greeted his ears.

This sound was not unpleasant; rather, it made one feel refreshed and invigorated, dispelling fatigue.

After a short while.

While Luo De was still washing up, he heard fragments of conversation drifting from the courtyard.

"Ah, this is my first time hearing a Mondstadt bard perform—it's really nice."

"He is the best bard in Mondstadt."

"Wrong! I'm the best bard in all of Teyvat!"

"Wow, that's impressive! Then after you and the guest official are free, if you have time, how about coming to our Wangsheng Hall to do a residency performance?"

"Sure~~ sure~~"

Upon hearing this,

Luo De couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of mouthwash with a "puff".

As expected of you, Hall Master Hu!

Leaving aside Venti's status as the Wind Archon, inviting a bard to perform at your Wangsheng Hall, which specializes in funeral services.

What's more,

And Venti actually dared to agree!

I don't know why.

Their exchange reminded Luo De of that famous scene where someone says, "With just this much money, I could sing all night."

"What a divine conversation."

Luo De shook his head, wiped his face dry, and hurried out.

Zhongli and Venti both arrived.

And yet I ended up being the last to get up— a bit excessive.

"Sorry I'm late getting up."

Upon stepping outside, Luo De first offered a humble greeting.

"It's fine; it's still early."

After speaking with Luo De, Zhongli turned to Hu Tao and said, "Hall Master, Luo De, Venti, and I have some private matters to attend to; we may not be able to return tonight."

"Alright, alright, go ahead."

Hu Tao waved her hand indifferently and said, "Anyway, there's not much to do around the hall these days; just take care of your own business and come back to handle the important matters."

"Thank you, Hall Master."

After expressing their thanks, Zhongli and the three of them left Wangsheng Hall together.

With Luo De and the three of them on foot,

Even after stopping for breakfast first, they still didn't waste much time before reaching Guili Plain.

This was Luo De's first time seeing this former granary of Liyue.

And the desolation of the place made him frown involuntarily.

Guili Plain is vast.

But the only truly prosperous area is the wide main road that connects Liyue Harbor and Wangshu Inn, along with the many villages and relay stations that have sprung up around it.

The situation is similar to that of Liyue Harbor.

These villages built along the main road are likewise commerce‑focused; looking around, shops of all kinds line the streets—some sell Liyue local specialties, some offer food and lodging, and some sell weapons and other self‑defense gear.

Moreover, the villages are built along the road, unlike other villages that cluster together with surrounding farmland.

Thanks to the trade volume between Liyue and Mondstadt,

these narrow, trade‑oriented villages are doing booming business, and the number of people who rise early and return late is especially high.

But one only needs to walk a little farther out,

and what meets the eye is a wilderness overgrown with weeds.

Compared to a desert where nothing grows, Guili Plain is still slightly better.

But it's only a little better.

Luo De casually grabbed a handful of soil, squeezed it, and formed a rough judgment in his mind.

Although he isn't quite an agricultural expert,

but having farmed in A Ru Cun for so long, and with agronomy being the subject he studied longest and excelled in,

he relied on his own experience and knowledge.

He quickly noticed the problem with this land.

Just as Zhongli had said.

The soil of Guili Plain contains a very faint residue of divine power.

Recalling Zhongli's tone at that time,

Perhaps the Kitchen God had already foreseen this outcome, but to restore Liyue's land he had no choice but to sacrifice Guili Plain to ensure Liyue's main transport routes weren't completely destroyed.

"Is the entire soil of Guili Plain like this?"

Luo De shook the dirt from his hand and asked casually,

"Hmm."

Zhongli nodded: "Back when the war ended, the whole of Guili Plain was shattered."

He didn't say anything more after that.

Luo De let out a sigh: 'That Archon war was really tragic.'

Able to completely shatter a tract of land as large as the Guili Plain.

Luo De simply couldn't imagine how terrifying the strength of the two warring sides could be.

Moreover, according to Zhongli.

At that time, the entire Guili Plain was shattered; if it weren't for Makexisi's restoration, judging by geography, Liyue would have become a peninsula protruding out and surrounded by sea on three sides.

This terrain is somewhat similar to Mondstadt.

The difference lies in that

Mondstadt is surrounded by water on three sides, while Liyue Harbor would be surrounded by sea on three sides.

Such terrain is not exactly good, because to the west of Liyue are mostly mountains and hills, making overland travel extremely inconvenient.

Once such terrain forms, it can be said that Liyue Harbor would directly become a peninsula city lacking any natural barriers and forced to rely solely on maritime trade for survival.

Even if such a city were larger in scale, it would still lack the capacity to withstand risk.

Therefore, Makexisi's approach to restoring the Guili Plain at that time was also a case of having no choice.

Fortunately,

Makexisi's residual divine power wasn't very strong; referring to the prior experience of managing the desert in Sumeru, Luo De quickly came up with several ideas.

"Mr. Zhongli, let's first use the Gnosis; I roughly have some ideas, and I'll explain these methods to you later."

"No problem."

Zhongli chuckled: 'No rush, young friend, focus on your own matters first.'

Considering the anomaly caused when using the Gnosis in Mondstadt before, Luo De walked further into the depths of the Guili Plain.

Until a place where his ears could no longer hear any noise.

He then stopped, taking out that Gnosis of the Geo Archon.

Different from Venti's Gnosis.

Zhongli's Gnosis gives off a feeling that is deep, mysterious, and inscrutable.

Held in hand, with feet planted on the land of Liyue, it also brings a steady, substantial feeling connected to the earth's veins, lingering in the heart.

"Whoosh—"

Luo De let out a long breath, attempting to stimulate the Geo Archon's Gnosis using the method for stimulating the Wind God's Gnosis.

Venti and Zhongli are not ordinary people.

He also didn't need to worry about causing any earth-shaking anomalies; he went all out, trying to attract the attention of the Sky Island as much as possible, to bind himself with that Geo element shackle.

Just that

As time passed second by second.

Luo De's forehead also couldn't help but have beads of sweat flow down.

No response.

No matter how he operated, this Gnosis of the Geo Archon showed not the slightest response, as if it couldn't recognize Luo De at all.

Even when Luo De exerted Hermanubis' power.

The result was still the same.

Luo De became somewhat impatient.

Unreasonable!

Based on his earlier speculation.

This elemental energy that should not have been bound by shackles ought to be something he could draw upon—so why is there no response!?

"Young friend?"

"Young friend!"

Zhongli's call summoned Luo De back.

He remained silent for a moment.

Luo De returned the Gnosis, wryly smiling: 'Sovereign, it seems I overthought it; this Gnosis is useless to me, I must find another way.'

"No rush."

"I don't need the Gnosis either right now; you can keep it, young friend—just in case it becomes useful later."

Zhongli didn't take back his own Gnosis, but instead pushed it back into Luo De's hands.

Luo De naturally wouldn't accept such a hot potato.

He directly shook his head: 'Sovereign should know that the Ice God is collecting Gnoses; their envoys should soon come to trade with you. If they learn that your Gnosis is in my hands, my troubles would only grow.'

Luo De's words were already quite clear.

But Zhongli still didn't take it, smiling slightly at the corner of his mouth: 'If you don't say it, I don't say it, he doesn't say it—who else would know my Gnosis is in your hands?'

"Ah?"

Luo De froze for a moment.

Even if he were an idiot, he should now be able to tell that Zhongli, like Venti, has no intention of taking back his Gnosis.

Or perhaps

He might also be preparing to give his Gnosis to Luo De?

This thing, is it really so hateful?

"Keep it, friend."

Venti winked at Luo De, echoing: "Majestic Rock King Emperor Lord, how could he possibly harm you~~You say, right?"

Here we go again!?

Luo De trusted that Zhongli wouldn't harm him.

But as soon as those words left Venti's mouth, they somehow took on a different tone??.

However, for now there's no other way.

Under Venti and Zhongli's insistence, he could only first accept this Gnosis, then figure out where to get a Vision.

(End of chapter)